Food bank in Stratford on Avon seeks volunteers

VOLUNTEERS are being sought to help run a food bank to tackle a 'hidden Hunger' in Stratford.

The Observer revealed exclusively in August shocking statistics which revealed many families in the town were struggling to feed themselves. They showed over 16 per cent of the town's 13,300 households lived in poverty - surviving on 60 per cent or less of the average national household income.

The findings prompted Holy Trinity vicar Martin Gorik to call an emergency meeting of representatives from various organisations in the town with the aim of setting up a food bank.

Much work has taken place since and the project is now looking to recruit volunteers for a range of roles - collecting at supermarkets, working in the stockroom sorting food and making parcels up, driving, helping to distribute food parcels and administrative roles.

Two volunteer information events are being held at Holy Trinity Parish Centre - on Friday (November 16) from 4pm to 6pm, and Saturday (November 17) from 10am to noon. All are welcome to attend.

Project spokeswoman Alex Holmes said: "We have been continuing on with a lot of behind the scenes work setting up the food bank and are now at a stage where we are looking to recruit volunteers.

"There are opportunities for people who would like to volunteer once a year, once a month or once a week."

Anyone who cannot make the information events but who would like to help should email holytrinity@gmail.com or call 07884 418732.